How to answer 'What are your strengths?' in an interview

This is part of 100+ Interview Questions Answered

The whole idea of an interview is to make the interviewer think that you are the best person for the position.

Think of yourself as a doctor, a healer if you will.

The company is in pain and hence it has advertised for a position.They need someone who can come in, take charge of things and take care of them, they need someone to reduce that pain.You are the doctor they are seeking out.

The interviewer is there to select you and not to reject you.

Every Interview Question seeks to find out / draw out/ bring to the fore some trait or the other.   The interviewer uses a number of questions to get a 360 degree view of the candidate (YOU) and make up his/her mind on the following:

• Are you the right fit for the company / position / team?
• Do you know what the company does/ company's mission / vision etc?
• Do you really, really want this job?
• Are you as talented/hard working/ sincere/ etc etc as you are trying to show?

Why would an interviewer ask the question 'What are your strengths?'

I mean who would possibly say 'I don't have any' or 'How the hell should I know?' or who would not want to try to use this question to impress?

That's exactly what this question is for.

It is what we call 'A positive' or 'Confidence building' interview question.

The interviewer wants you to feel comfortable, talk about yourself in a flattering way, wants you to get into a positive frame of mind.

Hence the question.

It also allows the interviewer to ask specifics about these "strengths" later in the interview.  So these become 'talking points' or 'lead ins' for the interview.

So for example, if you say your strength is teamwork, the interviewer may later in the interview ask you 'Tell me an incident where you demonstrated team work' or something a little more not-so-direct 'share with us a team project you accomplished in your current/last job.  Tell us what the project was and what you did'

The answer to those questions will determine if they buy the answer to this question.

First and foremost, be honest.  

The only strengths that count for this answer are the ones that:

1. are demonstrable with actions at a workplace
2. add value to the position you are seeking

1. choose 2 / 3 strengths that you would like to see in someone who was working in the job you are applying for
2. Find actions / accolades (verifiable) from your work ex that support these strengths.  Something similar is used in fiction - don't tell them, show them.  Apply that.  Dont tell them your strength, share the story and let them get it.
3. Do not use this answer to blow your own trumpet.  Humility is a strength too!

• Curiosity
• Interest in the world
• Love of Learning
• Judgement
• Critical Thinking
• Open Mindedness
• Ingenuity
• Originality
• Practical Intelligence
• Perspective
• Emotional Intelligence
• Valour
• Bravery
• Perseverance
• Diligence
• Industry
• Integrity
• Kindness
• Generosity
• Citizenship
• Loyalty
• Teamwork
• Leadership
• Fairness
• Discretion
• Caution
• Prudence
• Modesty
• Humility
• Gratitude
• Hope
• Playfulness
• Humour
• Passion

Example

Last year when our company had to reduce departmental costs by 20%, I took on the challenge to find sustainable solutions.  We created a non-formal group for brainstorming and presented our ideas to the management.  Not only were we able to reduce our costs by 25%, some of the ideas are now best-practices used across the company

I would be more than happy to help you improve your answer.

Please leave the following in comments:

• Name, age, education, position applying for
• exact words you currently plan on using to answer this question.

I will then try and improve it for you.

This is part of 100+ Interview Questions Answered